Pelzer Town Council Tables On-Street Parking Ordinance Vote

Pelzer Town Council Tables On-Street Parking Ordinance Vote

During their meeting Tuesday (Mar. 12), Pelzer Town Council approved an ordinance to annex and rezone a small piece of property at the ballfields and Additional Requirements for Applicants to the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals. First reading on an ordinance addressing On-street Parking, was tabled.

The Town of Pelzer is looking at how to deal with on-street parking and Council was holding first reading on an ordinance establishing regulations. The Planning Commission recommended wording recommended by the County which also meets the State code. The wording for the ordinance calls for a misdemeanor charge for violations and states that it would go to municipal court.

Councilmember Donna Ide had concerns, which other members agreed with, about the “misdemeanor” wording. There was some discussion about towing being the deterrent and Council agreed they did not want the ordinance to use the misdemeanor wording. New Councilmember Cruz West pointed out that the Town has no municipal court and questioned how it could be enforced.

It was decided that the Town Attorney Richard Thompson would talk with Anderson County’s Development Standards Director Alesia Hunter about the ordinance. Hunter is helping the Town navigate zoning, business licenses and other ordinances to deal with situations in Pelzer. The on-street parking ordinance was tabled for now.

Council unanimously approved first reading on an ordinance to annex and rezone 0.154 acres. The property was once a railroad right of way and is currently listed on the Anderson County TMS tax map as being in the Town of West Pelzer. Mayor Will Ragland said that it is a “sliver of property on the west side of the town ballfields” and the Town of Pelzer owns it.

Council approved second reading on an ordinance to establish requirements for applicants to the Town of Pelzer Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

In her police report for February, Town Clerk Cheryl Bates said there were 34 traffic stops, 71 enforcement, 15 calls for service and 4 arrests.

Concerns Raised During Public Comments

During public comments, Donna Ide said she has not been able to get a financial report on the Town and presented the mayor, council and clerk and citizens attending a copy of a Freedom Of Information Request. The FOIA requested “complete bank statements from January 2023 thru February 2024 for all accounts”. The form also requested the “fee (for the materials) be waived as financial records are an ongoing request from Council.”